Erling Haaland has signed a mindboggling nine-year contract at Manchester City in one of the largest deals in football history.
By committing to the best years of his career, Haaland will see an uplift in his £400,000-a-week wages and two release clauses in the Norwegian’s previous deal have not been re-inserted.
In seismic developments for the Premier League champions, the 24-year-old insisted that he wants to create a legacy at the Etihad Stadium.
‘I’m super happy, proud,’ Haaland said. ‘I’m looking forward to staying here for a long time. Now I can fully focus on getting better because I am going to stay here for such a long time. Full focus on performing and getting better to give all of the fans what they want.
‘In the end, speaking with the people I spoke with, the hunger and the support that I have been getting for the last couple of years from the board, from the bosses and from Pep (Guardiola), it was an easy decision. I am delighted.’
Winning consecutive Golden Boots and setting a Premier League record, Haaland has plundered 111 goals in 126 games since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £51million three years ago and was an integral reason why City won their historic Treble in 2023.
Erling Haaland signed a staggering nine-year contract to 2034 in one of football’s largest deals
Haaland’s goals have helped Manchester City to claim the Premier League in 2023 and 2024
Haaland and his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen welcomed their first child last month
Haaland has recently purchased a new property in Cheshire after becoming a father for the first time.
It’s believed that his career plan had involved moving to La Liga – with Real Madrid long-term admirers – and Haaland is understood to have reiterated that idea to friends over the last two years.
But a new contract covering 10 seasons, potentially taking him to the age of 34, is a significant change in direction and sign of intent. City opened negotiations with the striker’s team last season.
‘It is a really welcoming club where you get really taken care of,’ Haaland added. ‘I think that is also really important when you speak with people. You really feel at home here and that is the first amazing thing.
‘Second of all, when I spoke to Pep, the best manager in the world, it is also a great thing to speak with him and to train and play under him every single day. To get his input on me and how I can become a better footballer and to develop even more.
‘He is the best. Of course, you are here to win trophies, here to perform, here to be at your best and to deliver at your best. That is what you have to do here because you come here, people expect you to win trophies and that is why you are here.’
City’s hopes of retaining the title have vanished over the last two months but Haaland expects their season to turn before heading to Ipswich Town on Sunday. Additional firepower in Omar Marmoush is arriving from Frankfurt to lighten the goalscoring load on Haaland.
‘I am really confident that we will turn things around,’ City’s top scorer said. ‘Things have been difficult as we are so used to winning games, but also it is a challenge for us. To get this feeling of hunger inside every single one of us to not look at things easier. Don’t take things for granted, that is an important thing.
It was believed Haaland’s career plan included moving to La Liga, so his decision to sign a new Man City contract represents a significant change in direction and sign of intent
Haaland will see an uplift in his £400,000-a-week wages and two release clauses in the Norwegian’s previous deal have not been re-inserted
Haaland recently purchased a property in Cheshire after becoming a father for the first time
Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances for Man City since joining the club in 2022
The forward helped Man City win the Champions League for the first time in 2023
‘It is a bit of a reality check on actually how difficult it is just to win a game because look how good other teams are. Then you also look at City winning four-in-a-row and how extraordinary that was. To win the Treble as well is ridiculous. Look forward, stay positive and attack what is ahead.’
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain said: ‘The fact he is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love of this club.
‘He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves.
‘But in addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling’s dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.
‘He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.
‘Now he can focus on his game and continuing to play a huge part in helping us try to achieve even more success.’
The contract extension comes despite Man City awaiting the outcome of their hearing, after being charged with 130 breaches of Premier League rules.
Director of football Txiki Begiristain said Haaland will leave an ‘incredible legacy at the club’
Man City’s top scorer insisted the club will turn around their underwhelming form this season
Haaland looks set to remain at Man City post Pep Guardiola, who is contracted until 2027
The extension will come as a blow to Real Madrid, who have long been linked to the star
The Premier League accused its champions of multiple breaches of financial rules and of failing to co-operate with a subsequent investigation.
Man City had originally been hit with 115 charges by the Premier League, with a further 15 later added.
Should City, who strongly refute any wrongdoing, be found guilty of some of the more serious charges, they could be hit with huge financial penalties, points deductions or even relegation.
The hearing concluded on December 6, with manager Pep Guardiola revealing last month he expects the verdict to be announced in February.